FIFA has cut the prices of some World Cup tickets for the teams' biggest fans following a global backlash, with some getting $60 final tickets instead of paying $4,185.
FIFA said Tuesday that $60 tickets will be available for each game of the tournament in North America for the national federations whose teams are playing. These federations decide how to distribute them to loyal fans who attended previous home and away games.
The supply of $60 tickets for each game will likely be in the hundreds rather than the thousands at what FIFA now calls the “Fan Entry Level” price tier.
FIFA did not specify why it had changed its strategy so dramatically, but said the lower prices “are intended to further support traveling fans accompanying their national teams throughout the tournament.”
The World Cup in North America will be the first championship to feature 48 teams (up from 32) and is expected to generate at least $10 billion in revenue for FIFA. But fans all over the world reacted with shock and anger last week after seeing FIFA's ticket sales plans that did not give participating teams tickets in the lowest price category.
The cheapest prices ranged from $120 to $265 for group stage games that did not include the United States, Canada and Mexico. The English Football Association shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC), which revealed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game until the final, it would cost just over $7,000.
The goal of U.S. soccer officials when bids were applied for the tournament seven years ago was to offer hundreds of thousands of seats at $21 for the first round of games. The last time the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994, prices ranged from $25 to $475. In Qatar 2022, prices ranged from $70 to $1,600 when ticket details were announced.
Criticism from fans, especially in Europe, has been mounting for months over plans for “dynamic pricing” plus additional commissions on the FIFA-run resale platform – both features that are common in the U.S. entertainment industry but not for soccer fans around the world.
Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) welcomed FIFA's decision on Tuesday but said the “amendments do not go far enough to be agreed upon” and pointed to the lack of a pricing structure for disabled fans or additional tickets for accompanying persons.
The statement added: “At this time, we view FIFA's announcement as nothing more than an appeasement tactic due to the global backlash.
“We call on FIFA to engage in appropriate dialogue to reach a solution that respects the contributions of fans and the dignity of fans with disabilities.”
FIFA is allocating 8% of tickets to national associations for games involving their teams to sell to their most loyal fans, with the governing body saying on Tuesday that 10% of them will cost $60.
For the final, approximately 450 of the 4,500 tickets will be available at this reduced price.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on FIFA to go further.
“I welcome FIFA's announcement to cut fan ticket prices,” he wrote on X. “But as someone who used to save up for England tickets, I urge FIFA to do more to make tickets more affordable so the World Cup doesn't lose touch with the real fans who make the game so special.”
A FIFA spokesman close to the discussions told PA the organization had “listened to the feedback and believes this new category is the right thing to do.”
FIFA noted that it will “reinvest revenues generated from the FIFA World Cup to stimulate the growth of men's, women's and youth football across all 211 FIFA member associations.”
According to FIFA, there have been 20 million ticket requests since the third stage of ticket sales began last Friday. The “random selection” phase, which allows fans to request tickets for select matches for the first time, will run until 13 January 2026, with successful applicants notified by email in February and automatically debited.
In another cut on Tuesday, FIFA said it would waive administration fees for refunds after the July 19 final.
Information from The Associated Press and PA was used in this report.
